Neonatal intestinal obstruction

Our experience in the management of 138 infants with various causes of intestinal obstruction has provided us with important principles of diagnosis and treatments that we adhere to in the course of our practice. 1. The overall mortality of neonates suffering from intestinal obstruction should be fewer than 5 per cent. The high survival rate is accounted for by improved care these patients receive in specialized units. 2. Prematurity did not appear to play a significant factor in the outcome of these infants with intestinal obstruction. Our experience shows that premature infants tolerate operative procedures well, even in those instances in which an associated surgically correctable lesion is simultaneously repaired. 3. The major risk factor in any neonate with intestinal obstruction is the delay in diagnosis and operative intervention, especially in infants diagnosed to have midgut volvulus. The additional second risk factor is the association of chromosome abnormality. 4. Traditional diagnostic studies such as plain films of the abdomen supplemented by either an upper GI or lower GI contrast study for specific indications have been very effective in obtaining an accurate diagnosis of intestinal bowel obstruction. 5. Hirschsprung's disease can be diagnosed in the neonatal period if the index of suspicion for this is high. 6. Special surgical techniques as described should be used whenever indicated to minimize morbidity. 7. The traditional Wangensteen-Rice evaluation of a patient with imperforate anus is accurate, and specialized studies should be deferred for the postoperative period. Collaborative care provided by the neonatologist, pediatric anesthesiologist, and pediatric surgeon for these patients is the key to a favorable outcome.